Liberia court says presidential runoff vote can go ahead

MONROVIA, Liberia – Liberia’s supreme court cleared the way Thursday for the presidential runoff to go forward, saying there was not enough evidence to support allegations of fraud.

The second-round vote between soccer star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai had been put on hold last month after the Liberty Party alleged irregularities in the first round of voting on Oct. 10.

But the court said Thursday those violations were not sufficient to overturn the vote’s outcome. The National Elections Commission has been ordered to clean up its voter rolls before the second round can be held.

The court challenge had been raised by the Liberty Party, whose candidate Charles Brumskine had placed third.

Voters are choosing a replacement for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female leader and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.